Shattered

All To Myself

The hotels we went to see were absolutely beautiful. And I have to say I am surely impressed and inspired.

Instead of going straight home to America after seeing the hotels but no. Nathan wants  more days.

"Good morning." He says walking towards me.

He looks like he just stalked out of a magazine page. He is shirtless. The exact way he had been yesterday when he decided that we'd stay indoors and watch movies.

"What are we doing today?" I ask him.

He smiles.

"What?" I ask.

"I just love how much you depend on me when it comes to how we spend our day. Makes me feel like your knight in shining armor. " he says smiling so hard his dimple appears.

I throw a Skittle him.

"Ooh, are we missing Ethan? Dont mind if i join." He says cupping his hand.

It amazes me how much he loves Ethan. He has only known him for about three months.

"How about we call him?" He asks.

"How about later?" I ask. He smiles and nods.

"Dress up, I have an idea on what we can do today." He says.

"Okay, so do I wear formal?" I ask.

He laughs. I stare at him like the crazy prick he is.

"No. Just be comfortable. Oh! I could do pigtails again." He says. He looks so excited.

I laugh.  Knowing well that ain't no way I'm letting him do that while we're going out.

After a shower.  I'm out, in a long fawn coat, a baby blue knee length dress and beige heels. My hair left to bounce in all its glory.

He is seating by the bar, in blue tight jeans , a turtle neck because of the weather today and black boots.

"You look beautiful." He says standing up.

I've only ever seen him suits, but he looks amazing in other clothes as well. His brown locks look like he is fresh out a barber.

"Shall we?" He asks, giving me his hand.

We waltz out of the hotel.  But instead of getting into the car, we continue walking.

The buzz of the city feels wonderful.  It's great how early woken this city is. Women are rushing to work, a few young people are riding bikes around while you find a man in a suit every corner waiting to cross the street.

Then I see something,  a woman wearing a hat that covers her face. I've seen her several times in the many turns we took. She must be following us.

"... and she didnt want to walk. So basically this is as much a first to you as it is to me." He says.

"Why didnt she want to walk?" I ask, trying to keep the conversation going even though I'm more focused on the lady following us.

"She said that she is in a city were rich people live. She at least wanted to feel like it. A sad excuse if you ask me. Aha! We're here." He says.

"You took me to see stairs?" I ask as I eye the longest stairs depressing to a brick intersecting road.

"No silly.  We have to climb down the stairs to get to where I'm taking you. " he says smiling down at me.

He holds my hand as we make our way down the stairs. One at a time. I find myself laughing at the little corny jokes that he keeps on making.

My heart thumps heavily in my chest with only one emotion. One I so desperately want to ignore.

I turn and realise that the lady isn't behind us anymore. That we are infact infront of a little cafe, Little Cafè the sign reads.

I look at Nathan with a questioning look.

He smiles and nods.

We walk in, a bell chimes announcing our presence. There are only a few people in the cafè.  And unlike back in New York, there are no men in suits.

A short lady, about the same brown tone as mine is behind the bar. Her hair is white but her eyes are sharp.

"Bonjour, mademoiselle. Je voudrias une tasse de ton chai sale. Et la dame aura un votre meilieur cafè." (Good morning, miss. I'd like a cup of your dirty chai. And the lady will have your finest coffee.) He speaks French so fluently. I just watch in amazement.

The woman assesses me for a moment before she speaks

"Je suis dèsolè. Je ne peux pas servir de cafè á une femme enceinte , c'est contre la countume ." (I'm sorry. I can not serve a pregnant woman coffee. It is against custom.) The woman says to him.

He looks shocked for a moment. Then he nods and replies.

"Un chai latte. Merci." (A chai latte. Thank you) he says then escorts us to chairs by the window.

"She says you're pregnant." He says.

I chuckle.

"There is simply no way.  " I say and he joins.

Soon the drinks get by to us and we begin to enjoy them. The chai latte might be the best I've ever tasted.

"Dont you have any Skittles with you?" He asks.

I smile at the habit that has grown on him as well.

I take out the packet and we begin to eat.

"I found this place while taking a brake for Elizabeth.

We had had an argument and she told me to leave. I didnt know where to go , so I wandered around until I found this place.

I'd planned on bringing her here during our next visit." He tells me.

"Its absolutely a beautiful place. I'll definitely come back for more." I say. He smiles.

"You know, I've been to Paris a million times.  Yet this is the first time I've ever enjoyed being here." He says chuckling.

"And there's no one else I'd imagine myself being here with for the first time." I say with a chuckle as well.

I find his stare, its intense. As if he wants me to lean in and kiss him. My body wants to but I dont know how.

He smiles, then narrows his eyebrows.

"Why do you do that?" He asks.

"Do what?" Feeling completely clueless.

"You calculate everything. It's as if you dont trust fate's plan. Just enjoy yourself " he says.

I nod.

We walk back home in silence. His arm aligned around my waist.

"So we're really going back tomorrow huh?" I say, looking at him.

He smiles and nods.

"Plus,  it'll be Ethan's birthday and I threw him a surprise party."he says.

"Oh my gosh, Ethan's birthday. Is it already August the 3rd?"I smile.

"Yea. So want to or not, we have to go home. " he says.

Then ge sits me down to braid pigtails.